Fire-escape.



. W. R. GREEN FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1912.

Patented July 9, 1918.

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WILLIAM ROY GREEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

' FIRE-ESCAPE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM R. GREEN, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Chicago, in thecounty of'Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements iii-safety devices, being in thenature of a fire escape.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to produce a simple,cheap and thoroughly effective means whereby a person may successfullylower himself from a burning building.

It is a further object of the invention to produce a device of thischaracter which may be readily attached to the person of the user andwhich has associated therewith a cable Wound around a suitable tubularring, the end of the said cable being attached to a suitable support inthe building, and the speed at which the cable is played out from thering and the revolution of the ring may be readily regulated by the userof the device, so that the'said user may be lowered at any desiredspeed.

It is a still further object of the invention to produce a fire escapewhich, when not in use, may be conveniently positioned in a room in nearproximity to a window, without occupying much space in the room andwithout detracting from the appearance of the room.

I Itxis a still further objectof the invention to produce a device ofthis character including a tubular' ring having a cable wound around thesame, the end of the said cable being attached to a suitable support,the cable and ring being received in a compressible casing providedwith, a tubular guide for the cable proper, the user or operator,uponcompressing the casing, causing the same to frictionally engage withthe ring, and thus regulate the turning of the ring in the casing, andconsequently, the rate of the speed at which the cable is unwound fromthe ring.

It is a still further object of the invention to produce a device ofthis character, which shall be of an extremely simple nature,comparatively cheap to manufacture, which may be readily and easilyapplied to or removed from the person of the user, and which shall bethoroughly efficient and safe in operation.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed July 31, 1917. Serial No. 183,742.

Other objects and advantages will present themeselves as the nature ofthe invention is more fully understood, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the inn provement.

Fig. 2 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the same, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The improvement is broadly indicated by the numeral 5 and comprises anannular casing 6 provided with a tubular extension 7. The casing 6 isconstructed of two similar members, as is also the cylindrical guide .7,the said members being hingedly connectedas at 8, the said hinge beingdisposed directly opposite the cylindrical guide, and the guide, at itsjuncture with the annular casing is provided with lugs 9, and at itsouter end is provided with flanges 10. Through the lugs 9, and throughthe flanges 10 are passed securing elements, preferably in the nature ofremovable bolts 12-l2, whereby the straight edges of the memberscomprising the casing and guide tube may be connected. The flanges 10have additional openings 13 receiving the hooked ends of a belt 14:, thesaid belt being designed to be strapped around the person of the user,and in oper ation, the user places one of his legs through the annulus6, and so it will be noted that the device may be easily and quicklypositioned upon the person of the user.

The hinged casing 6 may be constructed of some suitable compressiblematerial. The confronting edges of the sections are spaced away fromeach other, the distance between the said confronting edges graduallyincreasing from the outer or hinged portion of the casing to theopposite end thereof. By this arrangement a pressure of the sectionstoward each other will cause the edges of the said sections to bebrought near to or against each other, for a purpose which willpresently be described. This pressure may be exerted by the hand of theuser or by the leg of the user when the users leg is passed through thecasing.

Arranged in the hollow casing 6 is a tubular ring 15. This ring, on itsouter periphery is provided with a continuous slot 17, communicatingwith the groove 16 of the ring. Numeral 18 designates a cable which hasone of its ends secured in the mug. The cable 1s wound around the ringand has its outer portion guided over grooved pulley 19 in the tube 7,the end of the said cable passing through the guide tube and beingsecured annular drum 15, the said drum having an annular bore 16 and toany desired support adjacent 'to awindow in a building in which thedevice is designed to be arranged.

In case of fire or other accident, when a quick exit from the buildingis desired, the occupant of the room arranges the device upon hisperson, in a manner as previously described, and gradually lets himselfout of the window. A compression upon the easing causes the same tofrictionally engage with the ring 15, and as the latter turns in theunwinding of the cable, the rate of speed at which the'said cable isunwound may be thus readily regulated. From the foregoing description,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the simplicityof the construction and the advantages thereof, will, it is thought, beapparent to those skilled in the art to which such inven tionsappertain, Without further detailed description. It is, of course,understood that the cable 18 is of a fire proof material so that injury.to the same cannot result from the flames, in the room to which the endof the said cable is secured. It will also be noted, that when the userhas safely reached the ground, the securing elements 12 may be removedso that the sections may be separated and consequently, the casing maybe preserved and again employed in connection with other hollow ringsand cables, while still again, if the necessary implement is at hand,the cable may be severedand the drum also preserved.

' Having thus described. my invention, what I claim is: i

' 1. In a device for the purpose set forth, a ring, a cable wound aroundthe ring and having one of its ends secured thereto and its oppositeend. designed to be attached to a support, a split compressible casingloosely.

and wholly received in the ring, a guide tube for the cable upon thecasing, said casing designed, when compressed, to. frictionally Copiesof this patent may be attained for contact with the ring to regulate theturning of the ring in the casing, when the cable is being unwound fromthe ring.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tubular ring having, acontinuous slot upon its outer periphery, a cable secured in the ringand wound around the. ring. and having one of its ends passing throughthe slot, an annular split; compressible casing receiving the ring andhaving an opening for the passage of the end of the cable on the ring,said casing being designed to be compressed against the ring to regulatethe turning of the ring through the casing, when the cable is unwoundfrom the ring.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tubular ring, said ringhaving a peripheral slot, a. cable secured in the ring and wound aroundthe ring and having one of its ends passing through the slot therein, anannular casing for the ring comprising two hinged sections, a tubularguide formed on the easing also comprisinga pair of sections, meansremovably associated with the guide foradjustably connecting thesections thereof, and guide means for directing the cable through theguide member, said casing designed to be compressed to bring the sameintofrictional engagement with the ring toregulate the turning of thering in the casing when the cable is being withdrawn from the ring.

l. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tubular ringhavingacontinuous opening on the outer periphery thereof, a cable wound in thering and having one of its ends secured to the ring. and its oppositeend passing through the slot therein, an annular casing looselyreceiving the drum, a tubular guide on thecasing, said casing and guidecomprising two members liingedly connected, and a, grooved roller inthevguidev for the cable, said'casing. having its confronting edgesgradually spaced fromeach other from the hinged connection of the saidsections to a point; dian'ietrically opposite said hinge, and thesections of the casin'g, being deslgned to be compressed; tofIlCt1OIi.-'

ally contact with the ring to regulate the turning of the ring in thecasing. when. the cable is unwound from the rim".

In testimony whereofI afiix my signature.

WILLIAM GREEN.

five. cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of; Patents,Washington, D. G.

